Quote:
Originally Posted by APhiAnna
If you don't mind my complete lane swerve, for somebody with a solid understanding of both HBCUs and the Divine Nine, why do you say it was destined to fail? Several people have said this like it is obvious, and I am just curious to understand why. This isn't one of those posts where I'm asking the question only to follow up by saying that it's inherently bad for people to not respect a fraternity like Pike just because it's primarily white or anything like that. I'm more interested in what the cultural differences between the two fraternity systems are that would make it so obvious to those "in the know" (so to speak) but not obvious to those who aren't.
Is it the fact that a fraternity like Pike just is not capable of holding the same level of respect on a campus where the Divine Nine is so ubiquitously respected (similar to how something like Groove Phi Groove does not hold the same prestige as AKA or Alpha)? Is it that there would be a resentment to an admittedly Caucasian cultural institution appearing on a campus so steeped with African-American traditions? Is it the fact that the Pike chapter was attempting to have a chapter based on IFC style recruitment, social activities and philanthropy on a campus where Divine Nine style intake and programming is more appealing?
Once again I'm not asking this to pass judgment on the reason, I'm just curious.
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In MYYYYYYY opinion, I do believe an NIC fraternity could work at an HBCU, but it has to be the right one at the right time with the right group of students.
Problem number one: it really wasn't the right group of students. I'm sorry, but I know of several of these guys. Just....wack.
Problem number two: a Pike told me he felt that their chartering standards were too high for Pike to work at an HBCU, particularly the number of men required to charter and maintain a chapter.
Problem three: I have nothing but love for Pike, but I don't think it was the right fit for Howard culturally. I dunno... I feel like a smaller org with a different vibe might have been better. Delta Upsilon? The Dekes?
One more thing -- there was major, major white elephant in the room -- the absence of Kappa Alpha Psi on campus at the time the Pikes organized. I really don't think it would be a good idea to bring ANY new fraternity to Howard unless it could be proven through the presence of all five of the NPHC orgs that there was truly a need for a new social fraternity. And when the school determines the need, I reallllly think it should have had an expansion process more similar to NPC sororities -- allow groups to make presentations.
I guess what sucks is that the school didn't really have the infrastructure to deal with this.
But yeah, the biggest reason we knew it would fail is because we knew the guys were herbs.
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